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Improve Your Knitting

Alternative Methods & Styles

Make your knitting more efficient, comfortable and beautiful as you master six valuable methods and styles.

Use the right knitting tool for the right knitting project! Take a trip through the wonderful world of knitting methods and styles alongside certified knitting instructor Patty Lyons. Find out how mastering different knitting styles — Continental, English and Portuguese (also known as Peruvian or Andean knitting) — can help you avoid strain so you can create your best work more easily! Patty will also cover a variety of knitting methods: Eastern, Western and combination. Each style and method has its own unique strengths, and you'll learn to mix and match them for evenly-tensioned projects, improved cables and ribs and more. You'll even discover how to knit and purl backwards, so you never have to look at the wrong side of your work!

Lesson plan

Lesson 1. Alternative Methods & Styles

Get started by learning about yarn tension, stitch sizing and how to move the stitches.

28:18

Lesson 2. Introduction to English Knitting (Throwing)

Explore reasons to throw as Patty demonstrates four approaches to yarn tension.

20:18

Lesson 3. Introduction to Continental Knitting (Picking)

Explore reasons to pick before learning how to set up the needles for knitting and purling Continental style. You'll also learn the Norwegian purl, and Patty demonstrates alternating between knits and purls.

40:22

Lesson 4. Eastern & Combination Knitting

Learn the pros and cons of these knitting styles, and watch Patty demonstrate knit-side and purl-side decreases.

40:15

Lesson 5. Portuguese Knitting

Learn all the aspects of this unique style with Patty's detailed instruction and explanations.

38:11

Lesson 6. Knitting & Purling Backwards

Knitting and purling backwards is easier than it sounds. Patty offers you detailed explanations and up-close examples of how to purl backwards, knit backwards and apply this method to short rows.

15:43

Lesson 7. Combining Styles & Methods

Bring all your skills and styles together to find the best combination for each of your knitting projects.

12:07

Lesson 8. Bonus Lesson: Alternative Cast-Ons

Learn alternative cast-ons, including long-tail, Eastern, Western and combination styles.

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Lesson plan

19:58

Lesson 1. Alternative Methods & Styles

Get started by learning about yarn tension, stitch sizing and how to move the stitches.

28:18

Lesson 2. Introduction to English Knitting (Throwing)

Explore reasons to throw as Patty demonstrates four approaches to yarn tension.

20:18

Lesson 3. Introduction to Continental Knitting (Picking)

Explore reasons to pick before learning how to set up the needles for knitting and purling Continental style. You'll also learn the Norwegian purl, and Patty demonstrates alternating between knits and purls.

40:22

Lesson 4. Eastern & Combination Knitting

Learn the pros and cons of these knitting styles, and watch Patty demonstrate knit-side and purl-side decreases.

40:15

Lesson 5. Portuguese Knitting

Learn all the aspects of this unique style with Patty's detailed instruction and explanations.

38:11

Lesson 6. Knitting & Purling Backwards

Knitting and purling backwards is easier than it sounds. Patty offers you detailed explanations and up-close examples of how to purl backwards, knit backwards and apply this method to short rows.

15:43

Lesson 7. Combining Styles & Methods

Bring all your skills and styles together to find the best combination for each of your knitting projects.

12:07

Lesson 8. Bonus Lesson: Alternative Cast-Ons

Learn alternative cast-ons, including long-tail, Eastern, Western and combination styles.

The instructor

Patty Lyons, Instructor of Improve Your Knitting

Patty Lyons is a knitwear designer and Craft Yarn Council certified knitting instructor who teaches nationally at guilds and shows such as Vogue Knitting LIVE, Knit and Crochet Show, and STITCHES. After running a local yarn store in New York City, Patty joined Lion Brand Yarn to help create the Lion Brand Yarn Studio, where she served as the Studio Director for five years. With designs and knitting articles in Vogue Knitting, Creative Knitting, Knit ‘N Style and Knit 1,2,3 magazines, Patty is recognized as an authority on sweater design and knitting technique. Her ability to help her students see the "why to" and not just the "how to" will delight you!

Ratings & reviews

Class rating

(203 reviews)

Many an "Ahhhh Moments"

by Sanibean on July 12, 2015

This is probably one of the best classes I have taken. From the very first 10 minutes I seen many mistakes I've made over the years. This is the 'one' class I will come back to many times.

Patty is delightful and just a natural teacher. Hoping someday I will be able to take one of her live classes.

You will not be disappointed in this class no matter what your skill level is.

This is probably one of the best classes I have taken. From the very first 10 minutes I seen many mistakes I've made over the years. This is the 'one' class I will come back to many times.

Patty is delightful and just a natural teacher. Hoping someday I will be able to take one of her live classes.

You will not be disappointed in this class no matter what your skill level is.

Got my knitting mojo back after 20 years!

by Oceaan on July 6, 2015

Never knew there were that many knitting styles, gasp! I found it very interesting and wanted to learn them all. First time following an online class but loved every minute of it. I was an experienced English style, throwing pitknitter but lost the fun of knitting somehow. Love the way Patty is teaching as it makes sense, the whys and not only the hows. All stuff is explained very clear and at a quiet pace and there is the 30 sec repeat button. I highly recommend this class, heart.

Never knew there were that many knitting styles, gasp! I found it very interesting and wanted to learn them all. First time following an online class but loved every minute of it. I was an experienced English style, throwing pitknitter but lost the fun of knitting somehow. Love the way Patty is teaching as it makes sense, the whys and not only the hows. All stuff is explained very clear and at a quiet pace and there is the 30 sec repeat button. I highly recommend this class, heart.

Loving Different Tension Holds

by Bdugger81336334 on June 18, 2015

Good explainations

Good explainations

Changed The Way I Knit Forever!

by maurajob on May 30, 2015

I am a self taught knitter but I was having a hard time enjoying it. I was using the English method and I just couldn't seem to "find my groove" the way I can with crochet. But I took this class and learned the continental method from Patty Lyons and now I can find my groove, knit so much faster and have fun while doing it. Not only did I learn a new method but the way Patty teaches makes it so easy to understand and it never gets boring. This class really did change the ...

I am a self taught knitter but I was having a hard time enjoying it. I was using the English method and I just couldn't seem to "find my groove" the way I can with crochet. But I took this class and learned the continental method from Patty Lyons and now I can find my groove, knit so much faster and have fun while doing it. Not only did I learn a new method but the way Patty teaches makes it so easy to understand and it never gets boring. This class really did change the way I knit and it opened up a whole new world of yarn projects for me.

Best Walk Throughs

by gziegler2810 on May 27, 2015

I am seriously enjoying this class. Each lesson is methodical and easy to follow. I have always wanted to see a good demonstration of the different types of knitting all in one place. I am also delighted that I can pull it up whenever and wherever I am. With an in person class, I can't revisit a lesson if I forget something. Thank You!!

I am seriously enjoying this class. Each lesson is methodical and easy to follow. I have always wanted to see a good demonstration of the different types of knitting all in one place. I am also delighted that I can pull it up whenever and wherever I am. With an in person class, I can't revisit a lesson if I forget something. Thank You!!